Ford: Cars Become More Like PCs

I didn't make it over to the New York International Auto Show which is happening this week - too many other things going on - but I did get a chance to see the next generation of the Sync system that Ford is planning for its upcoming cars, and it got me to think about how automobiles are getting more and more like PCs.

I didn't make it over to the New York International Auto Show, which is happening this week (too many other things going on). But, I did get a chance to see the next generation of the Sync system that Ford is planning for its upcoming cars, and it got me to think about how automobiles are getting more and more like PCs.

The new system, called MyFord Touch, uses multiple screens, more powerful electronics, and a new version of the Sync system based on the Microsoft Embedded Auto technology to create an integrated system for the communications and entertainment parts of the car, as well as displaying lots of other information. Ford now calls this an "operating system" that it says it will extend to all future Ford products. The version I saw will initially be available on the 2011 Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX SUVs.

A few things stand out. There are two 4.2-inch displays within the instrument panel -- one on either side of the speedometer. The one on the left can shows gas level, miles to empty, time, a tachometer etc. The driver can cycle among different views using a five way controller (up, down, left, right, and a center button for selecting) mounted on the wheel. The one on the right is similar, but it shows things like the entertainment playing, climate information, the next turn you should be making, or phone numbers from incoming calls.

The center console contains an 8-inch touchscreen, where you would actually set up such functions and control the music playing, navigation, climate control, etc. The idea is that the information you need to see is always on the instrument panel, so you keep your "eyes forward, hands on the wheel," and the center console is used when the car is stopped. (Most of the controls are locked out when driving.)

The system comes standard with a GPS function, Bluetooth connections for hooking up your phone, and simple voice controls. Ford says the voice control system, powered by Nuance's voice recognition, has been improved and "flattened" for this release, so you can say things like "Call Bill," instead of saying "Phone... Call Bill." If you get a text message, the system can even read it aloud to you. It worked well in the demos, though obviously I haven't tried it in the real world.

The system also comes standard with three years of "Sync services," which includes such things as basic navigation directions, and information and emergency services, though a full navigation package with full maps is an extra cost option. Other options include the ability to plug in a USB broadband modem, which turns the whole car into a mobile hot spot via Wi-Fi.

Interestingly, there's no hard drive for storing your media. Instead, you can plug in a USB drive or your MP3 player, or you can connect to your phone and share music from that. It has two USB ports, an SD card reader, and RCA jacks. The system connects with Gracenote to display information on the music playing.

It uses a Freescale i.MX51 processor based on a 600 MHz ARM Cortex A8 core, has 512 megabytes of RAM, and 2 GB of NAND flash. I remember when that kind of power was reserved for high-end PCs.

There are a lot of features, and it offers a good deal of personalization, which just goes to show you how far today's cars have come in integrating PC technology. Ford has even said that Microsoft Holm will manage the recharging system for the Ford Focus Electric in 2011. The result is a lot more power at your fingertips, making things like playing the music you want or getting directions much easier. And that's a good thing.

But, there are downsides as well. Last week, I was in a rental car -- not from Ford -- with well-known tech editors from BusinessWeek, CNet, and USA Today, and the driver was having trouble getting it to start. We all commented on how you used to be able to get into any car and pretty much knew how it worked, but now you need to study the controls. In other words, it is just like a PC with a new operating system, for better and for worse.

Michael J. Miller's Forward Thinking Blog: forwardthinking.pcmag.com
Michael J. Miller is chief information officer at Ziff Brothers Investments, a private investment firm. From 1991 to 2005, Miller was editor-in-chief of PC Magazine, responsible for the editorial direction, quality and presentation of the world's largest computer publication.
Until late 2006, Miller was the Chief Content Officer for Ziff Davis Media, responsible for overseeing the editorial positions of Ziff Davis's magazines, websites, and events. As Editorial Director for Ziff Davis Publishing since 1997, Miller took an active role in...
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